AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His chin dipped again. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I whispered. “It’s not your fault.”
His chin remained down, eyes on the rug.
I stared at him, watching his features closely, my heart racing a little quicker with every passing second. Heat flushed into my cheeks, my emotions running hot as if they were bottled inside my chest.It’s not your fault…right?The question repeated inside my head several times, but I couldn’t ask it. Despite the doubts, despite the desperation, I couldn’t break my promise to Axel. All I could do was pierce my father’s flesh with my stare, examine his features for information his words couldn’t provide.
He remained that way, eyes down for minutes, his hands clasped.
I inhaled a slow breath then shifted my gaze away, feeling guilty for questioning my father, the one person who loved me unconditionally. But then I felt just as shitty for questioning Axel, who loved me with all his heart. “You should go back to your dinner. I wouldn’t have come if I’d known.”
After a heavy sigh, he lifted his chin. “In any other circumstance, I would send my guest away and take you out for gelato or something. But it’s an important client. Made a long trip to speak with me.”
I felt a flash of disappointment, but I knew that was selfish. “Those divorce papers aren’t going anywhere. We can talk tomorrow.”
“Thank you for understanding.” He rose to his feet then kissed me on the forehead. “It’s going to be alright, sweetheart.”
I nodded against his chest even though I didn’t believe him.
He kissed me again before he let me go. “Gelato tomorrow?”
I nodded.
He gave me a smile, but it was the forced kind that didn’t reach his eyes. “I look forward to it.” He released me and returned to the hallway and then the dining room. “My apologies. How’s the wine?”
“I prefer French wine, but it’s not bad.” He spoke with a French accent.
I walked out the door and got into the car. I didn’t start the engine, and I just sat there in the dark driveway, looking out the dirty windshield. Now that I didn’t park my car on the street, it stayed cleaner longer, but the rain had stained it with waterdrops.
It was stupid to think my father would erase my pain the way he erased all my other problems. But he’d always been my hero, the man I looked up to, and knowing that he spoke to Axel but the outcome hadn’t changed devastated me. Our relationship couldn’t be salvaged. Whether Axel was lying or telling the truth, it seemed like this relationship had always been doomed to fail, from the first moment we’d met and he’d pursued me while I already had a man in my life.
It was never meant to be.
I didn’t know how long I sat there in the dark, but I didn’t think about driving away until it started to get cold. I hit the button to start the engine, but the dashboard didn’t light up. The car remained quiet. I hit the button again, and nothing happened. “What the…?” I tried a couple more times but then realized the problem. “My purse…” I’d left it on the coffee table when I’d pulled out the divorce papers.
It took all my strength to get out of the car and walk back when all I wanted to do was collapse on the couch again. But I pushed the car door open, crossed the pavers and stepped up to the door once again. I let myself into the house and walked across the room to where my purse sat, the envelope of papers sitting beside it.
“This is what we’ll do,” I heard my father say. “I spoke to the Colombians privately and offered them a higher fee than they even asked for if they’d choose to align themselves with this new partnership. The distribution channels that Theo set up are already in place, so I don’t need him anymore. You take out Axel and Theo, and once they’re gone, we’ll split the business fifty-fifty.”
I had just reached for my purse, but I halted when I heard what my father said.
My blood ran cold.
I stilled like a statue, as if my father would know I was there if I breathed too loudly, even though there was a wall between us.
My heart was like a drum in a marching band, pounding harder as I had more time to absorb the horrible thing he’d just said. He said it so simply, like he had no hesitation or doubt, like taking a life was child’s play.
I knew the butler would realize I was there because the door had opened and shut, so I couldn’t linger. I wanted to listen and see what else he had to say, but I couldn’t get caught. I grabbed my purse and the papers and quickly walked out of the house, careful to close the door behind me as gently as possible.
I hopped into the car and took off without fastening my safety belt.
I just had to get out of there.
Instead of going home, I headed to Axel’s.
I checked in with Aldo in the entryway. “I need to speak with him. Is he home?” It was almost ten now, so he was either home on the couch in his bedroom or…he was out. Doing god knows what.
“Wait in the parlor, and I’ll let him know you’re here.”
